In the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting at a Jewish event at Bondi beach, the Albanese government has released a plan to crack down on the spread of hate, division and radicalisation.
Announced on Thursday, the measures include introducing stronger penalties for hate speech and new laws to penalise preachers who promote violence in the community.
The announcement came four days after the devastating terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi that killed 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl.
The government will make five key changes:
- A new aggravated hate speech offence for preachers and leaders who promote violence
- Increased penalties for hate speech promoting violence
- Making hate an aggravating factor in sentencing crimes for online threats and harassment
- Developing a regime for listing organisations whose leaders engage in hate speech promoting violence or racial hatred.
- Developing a narrow federal offence for serious vilification based on race and/or advocating racial supremacy.
On top of this, the Minister for Home Affairs will receive new powers to cancel or reject visas for people who spread hate and division, or for those who would do so if they were allowed to come.
David Gonski has been appointed to lead a 12-month taskforce, including the Special Envoy for Antisemitism, to ensure the Australian education system “prevents, tackles and properly responds to antisemitism”.
Further, the eSafety Commissioner, the Special Envoy for Antisemitism and the Minister for Communications have been asked to work together to provide online safety advice to address antisemitism.
Further details on how these reforms will be implemented have not yet been revealed, including whether any specific phrases or groups will be targeted in the laws.
Speaking on Thursday, Albanese said the government would be “fully supporting and adopting” the recommendations from Antisemitism Envoy, Jillian Segal. The Albanese government has faced criticism this week for its lack of formal response to Segal’s report which was delivered six months ago. Albanese has pointed out the government had already acted on some recommendations, including legislation for hate speech, hate crimes, hate symbols and doxxing, as well as appointing a Student Ombudsman.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government would lower the threshold when it comes to hate speech.
“There have been individuals who have managed to exploit a nation that had different principles of freedom of speech and have gone right to the limits of language that is clearly dehumanising, unacceptable, having no place in Australia, but have not quite crossed the threshold to violence,” he said.
“We all know the gateway to violence that sort of language provides. We’re announcing that we’re working on the legislation now to lower those thresholds.”